January Monthly Connection

I find the character and actions of Edna Pontellier despicable. She betrays her husband and family and puts herself first. I understand her desire to be more independent, but leaving her family? That is just pathetic. In her relationships with Alycee and Robert, she knowingly betrays Mr. Pontellier. Some people say you should follow your heart and forget society’s expectations. However, to betray your husband and your family is wrong. I am all for equality and woman’s rights, but betraying your marriage isn’t “women’s rights.” It isn’t “woman’s emancipation” either, as the back of the book says. It is just wrong. When a man cheats on his wife, he’s called a cheater and a low-life, but when a woman does it it’s “female emancipation”. That’s a load of BS. What makes this all worse is the fact that not only did she betray her husband, but she consciously abandoned and neglected her children. Her own children!! That’s pathetic. If she were to divorce her husband and they went their own way, it would be regrettable but not wrong. However, when you add children to the equation they must come first. I’m not saying she has to be a stay at home wife and raise the kids, the husband could do that for all I care, but she at least has to be a mother to her children.
Another thing I don’t understand is why Edna is considered to be “oppressed” by her husband and society. While Mr. Pontellier could be a better husband, he wasn’t horrible and certainly didn’t deserve what he got. Edna had money to buy what ever she wanted, she was free to explore whatever art form she wanted, and was able to go anywhere she wanted. It wasn’t like she was discriminated against, poor, or abused. To be blunt, she was an upper class, white woman. Add to that the fact that she lived in a culture where woman were treated with the utmost respect. I think Edna Pontellier is more of an example of what is wrong with America today, then women’s emancipation. Today’s society is too self-centered and morally weak. Divorce and adultery are commonplace. The idea of “family” is not what it used to be.